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A Model for Flux Rope Formation and Disconnection in Pseudostreamer Coronal Mass Ejections

Wyper, P. F.; Lynch, B. J.; DeVore, C. R.; Kumar, P.; Antiochos, S. K.; Daldorff, L. K. S.

A Model for Flux Rope Formation and Disconnection in Pseudostreamer Coronal Mass Ejections Thumbnail


Authors

B. J. Lynch

C. R. DeVore

S. K. Antiochos

L. K. S. Daldorff



Abstract

Coronal mass ejections (CMEs) from pseudostreamers represent a significant fraction of large-scale eruptions from the Sun. In some cases, these CMEs take a narrow jet-like form reminiscent of coronal jets; in others, they have a much broader fan-shaped morphology like CMEs from helmet streamers. We present results from a magnetohydrodynamic simulation of a broad pseudostreamer CME. The early evolution of the eruption is initiated through a combination of breakout interchange reconnection at the overlying null point and ideal instability of the flux rope that forms within the pseudostreamer. This stage is characterized by a rolling motion and deflection of the flux rope toward the breakout current layer. The stretching out of the strapping field forms a flare current sheet below the flux rope; reconnection onset there forms low-lying flare arcade loops and the two-ribbon flare footprint. Once the CME flux rope breaches the rising breakout current layer, interchange reconnection with the external open field disconnects one leg from the Sun. This induces a whip-like rotation of the flux rope, generating the unstructured fan shape characteristic of pseudostreamer CMEs. Interchange reconnection behind the CME releases torsional Alfvén waves and bursty dense outflows into the solar wind. Our results demonstrate that pseudostreamer CMEs follow the same overall magnetic evolution as coronal jets, although they present different morphologies of their ejecta. We conclude that pseudostreamer CMEs should be considered a class of eruptions that are distinct from helmet-streamer CMEs, in agreement with previous observational studies.

Citation

Wyper, P. F., Lynch, B. J., DeVore, C. R., Kumar, P., Antiochos, S. K., & Daldorff, L. K. S. (2024). A Model for Flux Rope Formation and Disconnection in Pseudostreamer Coronal Mass Ejections. The Astrophysical Journal, 975(2), Article 168. https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ad7941

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Sep 8, 2024
Online Publication Date Oct 31, 2024
Publication Date Nov 1, 2024
Deposit Date Nov 5, 2024
Publicly Available Date Nov 5, 2024
Journal The Astrophysical Journal
Electronic ISSN 1538-4357
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 975
Issue 2
Article Number 168
DOI https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ad7941
Keywords Active solar corona, Solar coronal mass ejections, Solar magnetic reconnection
Public URL https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/3048001

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